Fixed Income Parent Build - Need Help!

[starlbirth]

Thanks in advance for everyone's help!

My parents (who are in their 60's) are currently using a first-gen mac mini and it is well past its prime. They have a budget of around $400, but I would like to be able to come in well under that if possible.

My mom uses her current machine for email/web-browsing, iPhoto, and iTunes. Super basic stuff.

I have a few parts from an old (circa 2005-06) PC that I built. I have a full ATX tower case with a 450 watt PS. I think it also probably has 4gb DDR2 memory in it as well.

None of the parts have to be current gen as just about anything will be a huge upgrade for them.

Do you guys think it would be possible to come in sub $300 and if so what would you recommend?

TL;DR - Older parents, upgrading from a 1st-gen mac mini, have a case and PSU. Can we get it under $300?

 

[Burninator]

If you skimp you can probably get down to around $300 I'd say.

Try searching the forums for other cheap minded folks: search.php?keywords=budget&terms=all&author=&fid%5B%5D=22&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

 

[starlbirth]

Did some downgrading from the Tonymac Budget 1 and came up with this.

Motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-H55M-UD2H LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128421


Video Card
GIGABYTE GV-N84STC-512I Rev2.0 GeForce 8400 GS Supporting up to 512MB(128MB onboard) 64-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125359


CPU
Intel Core i3-550 Clarkdale 3.2GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor $129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115065


RAM
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit $27.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231149


Hard Drive
Barracuda ST3160316AS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148698Seagate


Optical
Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model AD-7261S-0B LightScribe Support - OEM $18.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118040


Case/PSU
Rosewill R379-M Black/ Silver 0.8mm SGCC Steel Slim MicroATX Computer Case with ATX12V Flex 300W Power Supply $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147098


Total: $386.93

I think they could live with that price. Anyone see any compatibility or other issues?

 

[Vendetta]

Did some downgrading from the Tobymac Budget 1 and came up with this.

Motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-H55M-UD2H LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128421


Video Card
GIGABYTE GV-N84STC-512I Rev2.0 GeForce 8400 GS Supporting up to 512MB(128MB onboard) 64-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125359


CPU
Intel Core i3-550 Clarkdale 3.2GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor $129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115065


RAM
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit $27.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231149


Hard Drive
Barracuda ST3160316AS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148698Seagate


Optical
Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model AD-7261S-0B LightScribe Support - OEM $18.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118040


Case/PSU
Rosewill R379-M Black/ Silver 0.8mm SGCC Steel Slim MicroATX Computer Case with ATX12V Flex 300W Power Supply $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147098


Total: $386.93

I think they could live with that price. Anyone see any compatibility or other issues?

I have to say, I didn't think you could do it, but I guess I was thinking about a little bit higher end build (not that what you have here is bad).

You can maybe make it a little cheaper with this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128457&Tpk=h55m%20s2v

Tobymac, eh? I think you got the wrong guy.

 

[Burninator]

Looks pretty good.

 

[Lupeto]

How about the following?

$74.99 - CPU - Intel Pentium E5800 Wolfdale 3.2GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor
$56.99 - Motherboard - GIGABYTE GA-G41M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G41 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
$39.99 - Hard Drive - Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"
$29.99 - Video Card - GIGABYTE 8400 GS Supporting up to 512MB(128MB onboard) 64-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP
$18.99 - Optical Drive - Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model AD-7261S-0B LightScribe Support - OEM

Reuse your 4GB DDR2 memory, case and power supply.

Comes in at $220.95, which is well under budget.

Many have succeeded using this motherboard. You can save a lot of money by going for a socket 775 motherboard/processor and reusing your DDR2 RAM.

 

[SMHI]

Small changes.

RAM: If you are going for a motherboard with two memory slots, Vendettas tip, get one stick of 2GB instead. Its better for future upgrade, one free slot, because 2GB of ram is not much today. You save some money and get faster memory too. Get at least 1333 MHz memory.
Example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820146744

HARD DRIVE: Spend 5 USD more and get a lot bigger hard drive. Here is an example that is 500GB.
Example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822145299

That case needs a low profile card, if you plan to find any other graphics card.

You cant find some old used GeForce 8400 low profile card for 10 USD or something? Same with hard drive and memory. People today upgrade from old systems and maybe find some old parts. But getting used hard drives isnt always the best.

With Vendettas motherboard and my tips, memory and hard drive, the system will cost 368.93 USD.

Think about that Vendettas motherboard dont include a Firewire port and have two memory slots.

If you want to make the system a little bit more expensive and get USB3 ports, you can spend 110 USD for a GA-H55M-USB3 motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128429